Electrical system for automobiles



sept 25, 1956 J. w. CLOER 2,764,699

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 2l, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

rro/QA/EX United States Patent O ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES John W. Cloer, Bell, Calif.

Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,444

6 Claims. (Cl. 307-10) There is always a hazard on the highway of a vehicle collision or upset, with resultant .breakage of gasoline lines, allowing gasoline to spread onto the highway and onto the vehicle, which gasoline may be easily ignited and result in loss of life by burning. The gasoline is easily ignited if the electrical system of the vehicle should become shorted and sparks occur.

The present invention contemplates an electrical system for automobiles which effectively prevents re as the result of a shorted electrical circuit.

An object of the invention is the provision of an electrical circuit for automobiles which, in addition to preventing res by reason of a short in the electrical circuit, at the same time acts as a means for preventing theft of the automobile.

A further object is the provision o-f an electrical circuit for automotive vehicles employing a storage battery, wherein the ignition, horn, lights, radio, starter, and all other electrically operated accessories are made inoperative by throwing one master switch independently o-f the conventional switches normally controlling the same. Children may be left in the car without any danger of operating the electrical equipment. l I have provided an electrical circuit for automobiles wherein I may use a single fuse, or a circuit breaker of low resistance and low current carrying capacity and of the manually restored type, which fuse is blown, or the circuit breaker opened at any time when a short occurs anywhere in the electrical system.

The device is simple of construction, foolproof in operation, and generally superior to electrical systems for automobiles now known to the inventor.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a device utilized in the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure l, and,

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit embodying the invention.

Referring now with particularity to the drawing, I utilize in the practice of my invention a casing 1 adapted to house a solenoid 2 within which is a plunger 3. The plunger 3 is provided with an end extension 4 joined to an end of a plunger 5. The plunger 5 is tted within a guide bushing 6, carried by a supporting structure 7, within the casing 1. Fitted upon the extension 4 and insulated therefrom is a diametric contact ann 8, the contact arm being insulated on both sides thereof by insulation washers 9 and 10 and an insulation sleeve 11. Surrounding the extension 4 and interposed between insulation sleeve 11 and collar 12 on the extension, is a coil spring 13. This coil spring normally urges the insulation washers against end 14 of the plunger. The opposite end of plunger 3 carries a guide stem 15 passed through an opening 16 in the end of the casing 1.

The plunger 5 is provided with an extension 17 having an enlarged head or collar 18 and the extension carries a diametrically disposed contact arm 19 insulated from the extension 17 by means of insulation washers 20, 21 and an insulation sleeve 22. A coil spring 23 is interposed between the head 18 and the insulation washer 21 for normally urging the contact assembly toward the end 24 of the plunger 5. As shown, one end of the casing 1 is internally screwJthreaded for receiving a screw cap 25, the cap being annular in form and coniin-ing a washer 26 provided With a anged opening 27 through which the head 18 is passed.

The casing is adapted to carry four insulated posts 28, 29, 30 and 31. Each post is identical in construction and, accordingly, one of the posts will be described, to wit, the post 29. The post is provided with a head 32, which acts as a contact, and is positioned within the casing 1. The post is insulated from the casing by providing insulation washers at 33, 34 and 35, and said post carries other washers, such as 36 and 37, as well as nuts 38 and 39. The contacts 32 for the posts 28 and 29 are adjacent the solenoid 2 and insulated therefrom by means of an insulation Washer 40. The supporting structure 7 is formed from insulation material and the heads 32 of posts 30 and 31 are adjacent one end of said structure 7. The casing 1 is provided with an external bracket 41, and carried by said bracket are a pair of metal clips 42 and 43, which clips are insulated from the bracket in any approved manner. Clips 42 and 43 are adapted to receive therebetween the contact ends of a fuse 44. Preferably, this fuse is of the tubular glass-enclosed type. The casing 1 likewise carries a bracket 45 whereby the same may be mounted by means of a bolt or screw 46 either to the engine or to the car body, or some foundation member 47. In place of using a fuse, I may use a cut-out relay of low resistance and 10W current carrying capacity and of the type which must be manually reset.

Referring now to Figure 3, l have shown a wiring diagram which utilizes the device just described and shown in Figures l and 2. At 48, l have shown the usual storage battery, and in place of connecting the ground lead from said 'battery to the car frame, l connect said lead 49 to the pos/t or stud 28. A lead Sil connects the clip 42 for the fuse to the stud 28, while a lead 51 connects the clip 43 with a contact of master switch S2. A lead 53 connects the switch 52 with post 29. Post 29, by lead 54, is grounded at 55 to the vehicle frame. One wire end of the solenoid 2 is connected to post 28, as shown at 56, while the other wire end of said solenoid is connected to a lead 57, which connects with a contact of starter switch 58. Lead 59, known as the hot lead, connects with the storage battery 48 and stud 31. Stud 30 is connected by a lead 60 with post 61 of the starting motor, SM. The opposite contact of the starting motor is grounded at 62. There is a lead 63 from stud 31 to the opposite contact of the starter switch 58.

The arrangement is such that when the solenoid is energized, contact 8 will bridge the heads 32 of studs 28 and 29 prior to contact 19 bridging the heads 32 of studs 30 and 31.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

It is evident that there is provided by the present invention a circuit of low current carrying capacity and of low resistance through the fuse 44 when the starter switch 58 is closed, for the reason that when the solenoid is energized to move the plunger 3 inwardly thereof, the contact 8 will engage the heads 32 of posts 28 and 29 and as the plunger 3 continues to move within the solenoid, that take up is accommodated by the springs 13 and 64 on each side of the contact 8. Such movement completes a high current carrying circuit of low resistance. Thus, when the contact 8 closes against the heads 32 of posts 28 and 29, the fuse circuit is shunted, which is essential; otherwise, the starting motor which has a starting load of possibly 100 amperes, or more, would blow the fuse. However, by shunting the fuse, the fuse does not carry the heavy current and the starting current is directed through studs Titi and 31 and Contact arm 19. It is thus evident that the solenoid is a sequence relay. When the solenoid is not energized, all of the current fiowing in the battery circuit, flows through the fuse circuit, and this means the current for lights, horn, ignition, cigar lighter, starter switch, etc., as shown at 65. it then becomes evident why the switch 52 is provided. This switch may be placed in an out-of-the-way location, such as a glove compartment, and when the switch is opened, the car :cannot be started, nor the lights or any other of the electrical devices operated.

If the car is in an accident and is upset, with gasoline pouring from the tank, any electrical short will immediately blow the fuse d4 which, by being encased, will confine the spark and thus assure that the entire electrical system will not operate, or if there is no electrical short, the switch 52 may be opened.

I claim:

1. In an electrical system for automobiles, including a solenoid and a plunger, switch meansy for completing two electrical circuits in sequence when the plunger is moved upon ener-gizing the solenoid, each circuit being of low resistance and high current carrying capacity, the first electrical circuit to be closed being shunted by a circuit of low current capacity having included therein a low amperage fuse.

2. An electrical circuit for automobiles, including a solenoid, a plunger therefor, two separate switches adapted to be closed sequentially when the plunger is moved within the solenoid upon energizing the same, the first electrical circuit being of low resistance and high current carrying capacity, and having a low amperage fuse included therein, a source of electrical energy having connection with the first switch and first circuit, and a second connection with the second switch, a starter motor having a connection with said second switch and with a ground, and the first switch having a ground connection, whereby the first switch is grounded prior to the second switch being closed.

3. An electrical system for automobiles including two electric circuits, a solenoid and its plunger, movement of the plunger when the solenoid is actuated closing the two circuits in sequence, and the first circuit to be closed including therein a low amperage fuse, a starter switch and a starter motor, closing of the starter switch energizing the solenoid and grounding the first circuit prior to cornpleting the second circuit to the starter motor.

4. An electrical system for automobiles including two electric circuits, a solenoid and its plunger, movement of the plunger when the solenoid is actuated closing the two circuits in sequence, the first circuit to be closed including therein a low amperage fuse, a starter switch and a starter motor, closing of the starter switch energizing the solenoid and grounding the first circuit prior to completing the second circuit to the starter motor, and accessory switches included in the first circuit and operable independently of solenoid operation.

5. An electrical system for automotive vehicles of the type which has a starter switch, a starter motor, electrical accessories, and a source of electrical energy, including a pair of switches, a relay for closing said switches in scquence; a connection between the first switch to close, the source of electrical energy, and a ground; a connection between the relay, the starter switch, the second switch with the source of electrical energy; said starter motor being grounded, and the accessory switches each having one terminal grounded and the other terminal leading to the source of electrical energy, said first switch being shunted by a low amperage fuse.

6. The electrical system of claim 5, and a master switch in the fuse circuit leading to a ground for rendering the entire electrical system operative and inoperative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,584 Hemingway Jan. 17, 1928 2,301,408 Hunt Nov. 10, 1942 2,304,608 Smythe Dec. S, 1942 

